Microplastic Contamination in Chinnamuttom Coast Seawaters: An Investigative Study | InformativeBD

N. Sivalingitha, Jeni Chandar Padua, P. C. Jeba Preethi Jansi, and J. Agnel, from the different institute of India. wrote a Research Article about, Microplastic Contamination in Chinnamuttom Coast Seawaters: An Investigative Study. Entitled, Microplastic footprints in the seawaters of Chinnamuttom Coast, Kanyakumari: An investigation. This research paper published by the Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences (JBES). an open access scholarly research journal on Biodiversity. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

The study examines the microplastics contamination in marine waters along the Chinnamuttom coast. Density separation, filtration and sieving methods are employed to collect microplastics. The morphology, shape and colour of the microplastics collected were determined through visual analysis using microscopic identification. Microplastics were characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and FT-Raman spectroscopic investigations. The study revealed the presence of microplastics smaller than 5 mm. Approximately 70 mg of dried microplastics were obtained per 5 liters of water. The microplastics primarily consisted of fibers, pellets, and fragments, exhibiting a range of colours including orange pellets, black filaments and fibers in blue, pink, white and purple hues. Particles as small as 20 µm in diameter were detected using scanning electron microscopy, while Raman spectroscopy identified polymers such as polystyrene and nylon through their distinctive vibrational peaks, confirming the presence of bonds like C-H, aldehyde and C=C. The extensive pollution underscores critical ecological issues facing the Chinnamuttom coastal environment, potentially intensified by nearby fishing and tourism practices. The results emphasize the critical necessity for approaches aimed at reducing microplastic contamination in these aquatic environments to safeguard marine biodiversity and the overall health of ecosystems.

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Introduction

Microplastics are defined as plastic fragments or particles that measure less than 5 mm in diameter, resulting from the breakdown of larger plastic materials (Pellini et al., 2018). 

Microplastics are widespread in the environment, particularly in marine settings, as a result of hydrodynamic processes and transportation via wind and ocean currents. Large ocean gyres such as the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans, along with polar regions and the equator, host them, stretching from coastal areas to the open seas (Galgani et al., 2013). Microplastics are characterized by a variety of morphologies, including foils, foams, fibers, granules, fragments, and microbeads (Klein et al., 2018).

Microplastics can be classified into two categories based on their original dimensions. Municipal effluent could directly introduce industrially produced particulates and powders, originally designed as plastic microbeads, into the ocean as primary microplastics (Cole et al., 2011). Various physical, biological, and chemical processes fragment and degrade substantial plastic pieces, resulting in smaller particles known as secondary microplastics that may enter marine ecosystems (Arias-Villamizar et al., 2018).

Secondary microplastics refer to the fragmentation of larger plastic materials resulting from various forms of degradation, including biological processes involving microbial species, photodegradation caused by solar ultraviolet radiation, and mechanical abrasion due to wave action. Mechanical damage, photodegradation, and oxidative degradation are all mechanisms that degrade fragile polymers into microplastics in the ocean (Wagner et al., 2014).

A diverse array of sources contributes to microplastic pollution in the marine environment, broadly classified as inland-based, sea-based, and air-based (Andrady, 2011; Browne et al., 2011). According to Lebreton et al. (2017), rivers are the most critical conduits for the transportation of microplastics from inland regions to the ocean. The terrestrial environment is the source of approximately 80% of the plastic debris in the ocean (Andrady, 2011; Mani et al., 2015). Rivers transport plastic debris from urban drainage systems and sewage effluents to the sea, while coastal tourists immediately dispose of their plastic garbage in the environment (Andrady, 2011). Marine sources come from fisheries, maritime transport, and offshore industry (Bell et al., 2017). Plastic debris may end up in the waterways due to broken or lost fishing or aquaculture gear (Law and Thompson, 2014). 

Due to their increased bioavailability and potential negative effects on marine ecosystems over the long term, microplastics are expected to garner significant public attention in the next few years (Velzeboer et al., 2014). Although the exact nature of microplastics (MPs) and the harm they do to marine life is still largely unknown, there is mounting evidence that these contaminants pose a serious threat to marine ecosystems (Chen et al., 2017). Measures and initiatives are necessary to address the issues arising from microplastics and enhance plastic waste management. Hence, the present study aims to classify the microplastics based on their shape, size, colour and to evaluate the chemical composition of microplastics found in the seawater of the Chinnamuttom coast.

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Source : Microplastic footprints in the seawaters of Chinnamuttom Coast, Kanyakumari: An investigation